Greens back call for APY marijuana data

The Greens want the State Government to consider collecting data on marijuana use in South Australia's remote Aboriginal lands.

The NPY Women's Council says there is anecdotal evidence that marijuana use is a big concern.

But no data is collected to determine whether this is true.

Greens Senator Rachel Siewert says the information is needed.

"If youth diversionary programs aren't put in place, people transfer their substance abuse to another substance and what's been clearly said to us previously is that substance is more often than not marijuana," she said.

Senator Siewert says without relevant data, the issue will never be fixed.

"If we don't collect that information we have no evidence then on which to base any work that needs to be done or any resource expenditure to address the issue," she said.

The State Government says while it does not reflect trends in drug use, the misuse service based in the APY Lands collects information of client referrals.

It says marijuana was the issue of concern for 26 out of 66 referrals to the service last year.